During a patient's care, how should a nursing assistant handle patient records?

Maintaining the confidentiality and security of patient records is crucial in the healthcare field. This ensures compliance with legal standards such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), which protects patients' privacy rights. By keeping records confidential, nursing assistants help safeguard sensitive information about patients’ health, treatments, and personal details, thus building trust and upholding the ethical standards of care.

The correct approach involves ensuring that access to these records is restricted to authorized personnel only. Secure storage and careful handling of paper or electronic records are vital practices. This includes not discussing patient information in public areas and securely disposing of documents when they are no longer needed.

In contrast, sharing patient information freely with family members, discarding records after use, or summarizing them verbally can lead to breaches of confidentiality and can compromise the patient's trust and legal rights, potentially resulting in significant consequences for both the patient and the healthcare provider.